​​​​This role is offered on a hybrid contract giving you the opportunity to also work from home three days a week.

Purpose of Job

The role will be responsible, in conjunction with the Head of Strategic Comms and Public Affairs, for developing our PR strategy for local and national media. You will be responsible for developing and executing a year-round PR strategy for fundraising campaigns and projects, events, partnerships. These campaigns will play an essential role in communicating the positive work that Comic Relief does with its many partners.

You will help to prepare for any reputational risk and crisis management arising from consumer facing campaigns.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead on the development, implementation and evaluation of Comic Relief’s consumer PR strategy that will support the brand, drive awareness, strengthen the organisation’s reputation and contribute to organisational and fundraising objectives.

• Develop PR strategies to support Red Nose Day, Sport Relief and other fundraising campaigns and events, funding and corporate partnerships (eg. BA, Sainsbury’s, GSK, Gates Foundation, FCDO) to deliver strategic media coverage which also supports organisation objectives, including across the Nations and Regions. Delivering campaigns that are closely integrated with the overall marcomms proposition.

• Act as a trusted advisor to key stakeholders within the organisation, identifying strategic media opportunities to promote their work as part of the wider Comic Relief strategic objectives and priorities.

• Oversee the development of a digitally focused public relations team.

• Anticipate, prepare for and implement responses to crisis situations where there is a risk of damage to Comic Relief’s reputation

• Work closely with the Head Of Strategic Comms and Public Affairs to help develop the Comic Relief strategic communications narrative and messaging.

• Work closely with the fundraising teams to support integrative creative campaigns and their PR needs

• Have responsibility for recruiting and managing additional staff and agencies where necessary for busy campaign periods.

• Work closely with the relevant BBC Publicity teams for Red Nose Day and Sport Relief to ensure cohesive work practices.

Serve as one of the key media contacts for Comic Relief and hold strong key editorial relationships with print, broadcast and digital media.

Essential Criteria

• Strong relevant journalist relationships across National print and online media, and proven experience in handling high profile issues.

• Public relations experience

• Strong collaborative skills

• Experience and knowledge of the Broadcast industry

• Experience and knowledge of the charity and fundraising sector.

• Significant experience of consumer facing PR campaigns

• A commitment to Comic Relief and it’s core values.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Why work at Comic Relief

There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London, There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work.

Disability Confident employer

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV.

We ask that candidates that wish to be considered for this scheme email j.scott@comicrelief.com to discuss further. Please do not email CV's/cover letters.